What is the full Electoral Register?

The full Register lists the name and address of everyone who is registered to vote. Anyone can inspect it, but it is a criminal offence to supply or use copies for purposes other than those set out in law. The main use of the full Register is to show who can vote in elections but it can be used for other purposes such as by credit reference agencies to check credit applications, by political parties for electoral purposes and for law enforcement.

The full Register is updated every month and a new version is published on 1 December each year. Any person who is eligible can register at any time and many are contacted by the Electoral Office as a result of information obtained from government bodies (such as the Business Services Organisation) regarding changes of residence.

Do I have to register? I do not intend to vote

Does being on the Register affect my credit rating?

Yes, the Register is used by credit reference agencies such as Experian and Equifax to check applications for credit. If you are not registered you may find it difficult to obtain credit for this reason.

What documents do I need to send in with my form?

When your registration form is received by an Area Office, the details on the form will be checked against other government records such as the Department for Work and Pensions database.

If your details can be matched with other government records you will be added to the Register and you will receive a letter of confirmation.

If your details cannot be matched against other government records, you will be required to provide proof of your details (known as ‘registration evidence’). The evidence may be required for your:

Name

Date of birth

Address

National Insurance Number

Nationality if you are not British or Irish

or a combination of these.

Any documents you send in must be originals - photocopies cannot be accepted. The Area Office will return your documents using the same method of postage used to send them in. If you prefer not to send them by post you can bring them into any Area Office, or someone can bring them on your behalf. Area Office addresses and opening hours are available on the Contact Us page.

Where can I obtain my National Insurance Number?

You can find it on the payslip you receive from your employer, benefit/pension details received from the Social Security Agency, your National Insurance Number card or your tax return/any correspondence from the Inland Revenue. If you still cannot find your national insurance number you can obtain written confirmation of the number from the National Insurance Contribution Office (apply online at www.hmrc.gov.uk or phone their Helpline 0300 200 3502).

I’m a student living away from home. Can I register and, if so, where should I register?

Yes, you should register, and you can do so either at your term time address or at your home address in Northern Ireland.

If you wish to apply for a postal or proxy vote for the duration of your course you can download the application form from the Voting by post or proxy page. The form should be returned to the Area Office which covers your home address in Northern Ireland. Alternatively you can contact us and we will post the form out to you.

How do I register as an Overseas Elector/Anonymous Elector/Service Voter/homeless person?

I cannot complete the form due to a disability/I'm unable to read - can someone complete it for me?

Yes, if you are unable to complete the form due to a disability or if you cannot read someone can complete it on your behalf. They will need to complete the Witness section at the bottom of the form if you are unable to sign it yourself.

If you wish to apply for a permanent postal or proxy vote on the grounds of disability you can download the application form on the Voting by post or proxy page. The form should be returned to your local Area Office. Alternatively you can contact us and we will post the form out to you.

I'm on the Register but credit reference agencies can't find my details and I can't get credit

Credit reference agency records are often not updated for several months but the Electoral Office has no control over this - we do not have a working relationship with the agencies beyond supplying them with the Register which they are entitled to purchase by law. Agencies receive the Register on 1 December each year and updates on the first working day of each month in between.

Sometimes agencies have difficulty finding someone living at an apartment as the address quoted to them can differ from the format of the address on the Register. If you contact us we can confirm the exact wording of your address on the Register and this may enable the agency to find your details.

If requested, your local Area Office can provide written confirmation that you are listed on the Register and you can provide a copy of this to the agency to prove you are registered, but we cannot contact the agency on your behalf.

Why are my registration details available on websites like 192.com?

Websites like 192.com use information from old electoral registers (before the edited register was introduced in 2003) and information from edited registers published since 2003 to compile and publish this data. If you do not tick the edited register box on the registration form or notify us in writing that you wish your details to be removed from the edited register your information will be available to them.

The information on these websites is often inaccurate but as we do not provide information to these companies we have no control over this. You can get your details removed from these websites by completing a removal request form (available on their website, not the EONI website).

You may wish to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner (www.ico.org.uk) if you feel your personal data is being improperly processed by the website concerned.

How can I get my details removed from the Register?

Once you are on the Register you can only be removed if you are no longer eligible to register (for example if you leave the country). Otherwise the law requires you to remain on the Register, even if you are not intending or are unable to vote.